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Thursday, June 3, 2010

This is not an original idea. I got the idea from my friends Maura and Laurie who told me about money trees that they had received and given as gifts.

Normally I hate giving money as gifts. But right now, it is graduation season here in the States...and new graduates from high school and college really do need money more than anything else.

So, I loved this idea of taking the money and giving it a special presentation to mark the occasion.

I googled "money tree", "money topiary", etc. but couldn't find an example of what my friends had described so I made up my own version based on what they told me.

And I LOVED the outcome so much that I thought I'd share it with all of you.

You could customize the tree in so many ways. Changing the colors of the ribbons, pot, leaves...you name it! For this topiary, I used about 90 $1 bills. If that's too much money for you, make a smaller topiary in a smaller pot...or add more leaves and ribbons...

No matter what you do, the receiver will love you for it!

The rest of the post is taken up with showing you how I made mine. As soon as I have a minute, I'll convert it to a .pdf file and reduce the size of this post. If you're not interested in how it's made, you can skip it!

Supplies

6" clay pot

12" 0.75 inch wooden dowel

Paint for dowel and for pot (I used paint specifically for the clay pot)

Florist greening pins

Green styrofoam ball (I used 6 inch)

Green foam block for inside pot

6" Pot Topper

Crisp currency for folding

Leaves

Foam paint brush

1. Gather supplies: I bought all of these supplies at Michaels Craft Store here in the States.2. Paint the pot and the wooden dowel. Let dry.3. Place styrofoam block in pot and break up the second block into pieces in order to fill the pot completely.

4. Press dowel through center of styrofoam and remove. Make sure to hold dowel perfectly vertical.5. Take pot topper and cut a cross in the center of the moss so the dowel can fit through.6. Put a little glue in the hole...7. Place dowel through topper and into hole. Center and place styrofoam ball on top of dowel, placing a little glue in that hole as well (no pic of that step)8. This part takes the longest so I recommend starting it ahead of time and enlisting help. Fold currency accordion style (new crisp bills work best but you can use any...)9. For a U.S. bill, the fold should be about 3/8" wide...just the width of the floral pin you'll be using to place it on the styrofoam ball. Bend the bill about a 1/4" from the bottom and fold fan vertical to the pin.

10. Place pin in ball. 11. And spread fan of bill...

12. OK. Remember you're going to need A LOT of bills to cover the ball...or use a smaller ball.13. Place bills in every direction, starting to cover the entire styrofoam ball.14. I stopped at about $90 amd the ball looks like this. I didn't quite care for the styrofoam showing through so...15. I found some green satin leaves (in the bridal section at Michaels) and cut the stems shorter. I loved the color of this green with the money but I suppose you could use flowers or other colored leaves. Have fun!16. I placed the leaves in all the places where the styrofoam showed through.17. Lastly, I personalized the pot by adding signs and ribbons. And voila! AHave a great day!

What an incredible gift for a graduate!! I LOVE it and will borrow your idea when my sons graduate. I'll bet with colourful Canadian money the tree will have take on the look of a fall tree, but since our smallest bill is a $5, I'll have to start with a pretty small base. LOL!Have a great weekend Susan.

Oh gosh, leave it to you think of something fabulous and different, then share how you did it with us and on and on. You're the best Susan. No....you ARE the best. And all this in your spare time too. I just love topiaries, but one with cash, you really know how to top an iary girl! You always brighten my day.

What a fabulous idea. You know even my Mother would love something like this for the holidays. I can never find anything to give to a 76 year old woman except money & I always feel like I'm cheating by just giving her an envelope with cash. I think I'm going to make her one of these for Christmas but in the shape of an evergreen tree by using cone shaped styrofoam...she'll love it.

Love this idea!!!! Definately a great way to present the thing that the kid's need the most!!!! Thanks os much for sharing with us!!! I am sure taht Shannon was or will be thrilled with it, you clever girl!!!!

Susan, your pictures and instructions were so clear and easy to follow! I made one for a school raffle, and in addition to the bills, I used gold dollar coins hot glued to 2" cut bamboo skewers with leaves to look like kumquats. Such a fun and (aside from the actual dollars) inexpensive craft! Thank you!